UK media terms Pak CJ Chaudhury as first civilian hero

The Fridays ruling of the Pakistan Supreme Court, reinstating suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has been hailed by the British media, which termed him as the countrys first civilian hero.

London, July 22 : The Friday's ruling of the Pakistan Supreme Court, reinstating suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has been hailed by the British media, which termed him as the country's "first civilian hero."

"Chaudhry, a stubborn judge with a tendency to rambling speeches, became an unlikely national hero when (Pakistan President) General Pervez Musharraf tried to fire him last March," wrote The Guardian.

"Sixty years of history taught people that this wasn't possible," The News quoted Ayaz Amir, a political commentator, as saying.

"All that has been swept aside. It's almost hard to believe," Amir added.

The British newspapers were of the opinion that the 'unbelievable' reinstatement could jeopardise chances of Musharraf's re-election as the country's President for next five years.

Another daily, The Times, wrote that the reinstatement of the Chief Justice unconditionally is a blow to Musharraf, who had suspended him on March 9.

It writes that the historic ruling - the first a Pakistan court has ever made against a military ruler - comes after four months of unrest in Pakistan since Justice Chaudhry's suspension on allegations of misconduct and corruption.

"Judge Chaudhry's defiance has provided one of the greatest challenges to President Musharraf's authority since he came to power in a bloodless military coup eight years ago. His reinstatement could create problems for General Musharraf's plans for re-election later this year for a second five-year term," Times concludes.

ANI